Robin van Persie remains hopeful Netherlands can qualify for Euro 2016 heading into Saturday s away game against Kazakhstan.

The Dutch sit fourth in Group A with 10 points from eight games and desperately need a win in Astana at the weekend.

Additionally, they need third-placed Turkey to slip up in their remaining two fixtures and Van Persie is confident that is exactly what will happen.

Don t ask me why, but I believe Turkey will definitely spill points in their last two games, Van Persie told De Telegraaf.

The Turkish players at Fenerbahce are all confident they will progress, but I have no doubt they will slip up.

It is now up to us to ensure we bag the full three points in both of our last two games. That is all that matters. It is not impo…

As qualifying for Euro 2016 nears its conclusion, here we take a look at what each of the contenders need from the coming round of fixtures to take a step closer to next year s tournament in France.

Group A

Iceland and the Czech Republic have already booked their flights to France next year after drawing against Kazakhstan and winning in Latvia respectively, but Turkey and Netherlands are set to fight it out for the coveted play-off berth. Turkey moved two points clear in third position after routing Netherlands on Sunday. Should Fatih Terim s men win in the Czech Republic, and the Dutch fail to do so against Kazakhstan next month, Turkey will reach the play-offs.

Group B

A first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup remains on the cards for grou…

Bernd Leno is aiming to impress with Germany and stake his claim for a spot in the squad should they make it to Euro 2016.

The Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper, called up for the first time for the current round of international fixtures, watched from the bench as Joachim Low s men were beaten 1-0 by Republic of Ireland last Thursday.

He hopes that by working hard in training he can garner favour with the coaching staff and be considered for a spot in the squad at the finals in France next year, with Germany needing a point at home to Georgia on Sunday to seal their place.

We ll have to wait and see. My task here is to make the best possible impression of myself here and to put in some convincing performances during training, Leno told the DFB s official website.<…

Tottenham winger Bryan Gil has returned to Sevilla on loan for the remainder of the season, 18 months after leaving the club.

Gil has struggled for regular game-time since joining Spurs ahead of the 2021-22 season, spending the second half of the last campaign on loan at Valencia, whom he helped to the Copa del Rey final.

The 21-year-old, who has made four appearances for Spain s senior side, has played just 148 minutes across four Premier League outings for Antonio Conte s team this season.

Sevilla sit 13th in LaLiga – just two points clear of the bottom three – after enduring a disappointing campaign to date and reportedly do not possess a clause to make Gil s return permanent.

Jorge Sampaoli s side also agreed a deal to sign midfielder Pape Gueye…

Real Madrid secured the title with four LaLiga fixtures remaining thanks to a commanding 4-0 win over Espanyol.

Carlo Ancelotti s team went into Saturday s game at the Santiago Bernabeu knowing a point would be enough to wrap up the 35th LaLiga title of the club s prestigious history.

But anything other than a home win never looked likely after Rodrygo opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, with Los Blancos cruising to a comfortable victory despite significant squad rotation.

Rodrygo made it 2-0 10 minutes later, before Marco Asensio and substitute Karim Benzema added to the score in the second half.

Success this season represents a maiden LaLiga title for Ancelotti, who has become the first coach to win all of Europe s top five leagues, having previous…

Ansu Fati says Barcelona are aiming to triumph in LaLiga and the Champions League this season after making a goalscoring return to action against Levante on Sunday.

Fati, on as a late substitute, put the icing on the cake in his comeback following 10 months out with a knee injury, finishing superbly in stoppage time as Barca ended a run of three games without victory.

Luuk de Jong had earlier doubled Barca s lead in his fourth appearance for the club following his move from Sevilla after his Netherlands team-mate Memphis Depay opened the scoring from the penalty spot.

It was the first time since March 2009 that two different Dutch players had scored in the same LaLiga game, Arjen Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar last doing so for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilba…

Jose Mourinho congratulated Inter and accepted Roma were deservedly beaten by a much stronger  side as he suffered a humbling 3-0 defeat against his former team.

Roma were three goals down inside 39 minutes at Stadio Olimpico and failed to muster any sort of response as they slipped to their seventh defeat in 16 Serie A games – their most at this stage since 2008-09.

The defeat was Mourinho s second in eight home league matches as Roma boss, having previously gone 38 without losing at home in Serie A as Inter head coach.

Saturday s contest was the Portuguese s first league meeting with Inter since guiding them to a famous treble in 2009-10 in the second of two successful campaigns at the club.

Roma were without a number of players due to suspension, co…

Jim Curtin is keen to see the Philadelphia Union retain their reputation as a tough team to play against, with his side still unbeaten this season ahead of Saturday s visit of Real Salt Lake.

The Union sit sixth in the Eastern Conference standings with three wins and four draws so far this term, their latest stalemate coming by a 2-2 scoreline against Atlanta United last time out.

While Curtin was somewhat disappointed to see the Union s three-match winning streak ended in Georgia, he is pleased by the resilience they have shown ahead of their return to Subaru Park.

Whether people in the public think we re good or think we re bad, they will at least say we re tough to play against, Curtin said.

I think that unequivocally across the board, there s not a…

Thierry Henry was delighted to guarantee France a first Olympic medal in the men s football since 1984 after their comeback victory over 10-man Egypt.

Les Bleus were minutes away from a semi-final exit against the Pharaohs until Jean-Philippe Mateta s 83rd minute equaliser.

Mateta would grab his fourth of the tournament and second of the match in the ninth minute of extra-time, with former Crystal Palace team-mate Michael Olise confirming the 3-1 win soon after.

Henry had been preparing for this event since taking over in August 2023 and felt the weight of responsibility, having seen his nation perform brilliantly in other events as the hosts.

“I’m living a dream. I don’t want to wake up, Henry said.

I’ll be honest with you, wha…

Bruno Fernandes insists he was not taking a swipe at Cristiano Ronaldo when describing Manchester United as a proper team following the superstar forward s exit.

Portugal international Fernandes struck a controversial equaliser against Manchester City on Saturday before Marcus Rashford earned a 2-1 comeback victory for United at Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag s side have now won nine matches in a row – seven of those since Ronaldo s high-profile exit in November – in what is their best league run since January 2017.

It has been quite the turnaround for United, who lost their opening two matches against Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion but are now up in third place.

Speaking to BT Sport after United s latest win, Fernandes said: We used to be individ…